Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-15
Winchester PTesbytery.


The Prcsbytery of Winchester met
in the Ccdar-Creek church, Frederick
county, Va, September 9Th. This
shurch disputes with the Old Stone
church, Of Augusta county, and with
tuscmora and Opequon, of Winchester
PrcshytCry. the palm of antiquity, it.
history going back to the year 1872.
Present during the sessions, eighteen
ministers and fifteen ruling elders.
Rev. j. Me-. Duckwall was elected
moderator and Rev Charles Ghisein
and EldcrE. SchaciIcr temporary clerks.
Tie Free Conversation on the state
OF Religion developed nothing OF uuu-
sual interest. Our churches, for thc
most paIt. seem to he IN q healthy con
ditiou. The strditness OF the time.
throughout the rural districts for tie
last year has been made manifest in the
total Of the contributions to benevolent
objects as we'll as in other things.
With prosperity we hope for increasing
libOality.
A matter which evoked considerable
interest was the work of the Historical
Committee 0HcW the coming centen-
nal Of the Synod of Virginia. Vim
chester Ircsbytery covers territory
around which gathers tie history OF
Proshyterianism ia the Valley from the
time If Fairfax on. Opeluon, Cedar
Creek, and 1uscarora, III the Valley,
and old Concrete, i'm what is now Hardy
county. West Virginia, carry us back
for more than a century and q BALI
For number Of years succeeding the
wear 1850 aii this country Was covered
by the old ir sbytery Of Donegal, the
records # winch are kept il tiro-prooI
vaults In the city of Harrisburg, Pa
The committee mentioned was sent 20
gather out OF these old record, all that
concUnodue, and their report is eagerly
awaited by the presbyterv.
The Eov. ~. +. Epes, Of the Pre- shy
terry of East Hanover, WIS invited to
SIT as corresponding membyr, and
later received INTO the preobytery.
MIR. Tpcs takes chars OF the Wood
stock church, and order WAS taken for
his installation there.
a letter from Dr. ". r. Hall, OF the
svnod's committee or evangeiistlc labor
among the coior,d people. was the oc-
casiOn of IL solt Of experience meeting,
in which 1T appeared, to the surprise of
the brethren, that "a quiet work among
the n,wToes was going or, and with
sUue good dCgICc OF Succ S. in several
different charges. We, therefore, re-
mort progress in THIS difficult and inn
portaut work.
4 proposition was made to sever our
connection with the assemblys COM
mittec in the sustentation work. This
serious step, proposed because the secre-
tary Of the assembly S committee re-
fused to giant certain applications OF
the home committee, was earnestly de-
battd and finally failed 10 he carried
into effect 10y tie vote.
Prcsbyttry also distinctly declined,
in one instance at least, to fall i'll with
tie method OF apportionment now so
fashionable in many parts of the
Church. Some Of the members insist
cd that this was a step in the direction
Of assessment. and as often as the body
could be brought fairly to face the
issue it was voted down.
An interesting report on the Mi
nuies of the General Assembly " Was
presented. That vexed question of the
| elder-moderator, which We all thought
buried, comes before us again, it seems,
under the incantations of DR.. Wither
spoon, and was docketed for the spring
meeting,
After the usual vote Of thanks the
presbytery adjourned to meet during
| the sessions of the synod and in regu-
lar stated meeting in CharlestOwn,
West Va, on the third Wednesday OF
April, 1883. w.